Pharmacy Tech Program
How to Select the Right One Near Livingston California

Now that you have decided to earn your pharmacy tech degree or certificate near Livingston CA, you may be thinking about just how to pick the best college to receive your education and training. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing colleges so that you subsequently enroll in the right one? A number of prospective students start by looking for colleges that are within driving distance of their residence, and then comparing the cost. While tuition and location are critical factors when choosing a college, they are not the sole ones. Qualifiers including reputation and accreditation need to be evaluated as well. And if you are interested in attending classes in your home in front of your computer instead of in a classroom, then finding an accredited online program will also be included in your vetting process. We will cover these qualifiers and others that you will need to include when reviewing pharmacy technician schools. But to begin with, let's take a look at what a pharmacy technician does, the certificate and degree options available, and the benefits of online programs.

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Pharmacy Technician Job Responsibilities

Pharmacy techs have numerous job responsibilities, but their principal responsibility is to dispense prescription medicines. Since they are not licensed, when filling prescriptions they must work under the supervision of a licensed Livingston CA pharmacist. They must also have good customer service abilities since they will be dealing directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be precise when preparing prescription medicines per the pharmacist's directions. And they need to have an extensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terms so that they can assist customers with understanding directions for their medications as well as other pharmaceutical information and literature. On the other hand, under no situation should they ever offer medical advice relating to prescriptions or anything else. Any such questions should be handled by the pharmacist. Several of the regular daily tasks a pharmacy technician may carry out are:

• Welcome and help customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Prepare prescription drugs under pharmacist direction
• Input prescription and customer data into pharmacy computer system
• Phone customers when their medications are prepared for pick-up
• Fill out and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Stock shelves and monitor and control inventory

As a consequence of their job, pharmacy techs will spend most of their working day standing. And working evenings and weekends is also very common, particularly for newer techs with lower seniority. But the payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or sometimes being required to work off-hours is an extremely fulfilling career helping people with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Technician Degrees

Individuals wishing to enroll in a pharmacy tech school are qualified provided that they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are essentially 2 alternatives to becoming a tech regardless if you enroll in a community college or a trade school. The first is to earn a diploma or a certificate, which normally can be completed in a year or less. These programs provide an overview to the various elements of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and usually include classroom and lab training. A number of programs also require an internship at an approved Livingston CA pharmacy or similar facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which generally takes about 2 years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does furnish a more expansive education and can lead to more advanced positions or education in the future. Either program should furnish the proper amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate decide to become certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certifications Offered

It is not required to earn certification in all states, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy tech colleges elect to become certified in order to be more competitive in the job market. Also, a number of Livingston CA pharmacies will only employ a technician that is certified. There are 2 organizations that provide certification:

• National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
• Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB).

The NHA requires that the applicant be at least 18 years old, has graduated from high school, has finished a training program, and has one or more years of professional experience. The PTCB just requires that the applicant has a high school diploma and passes their exam. Recertification is required every two years by both programs, which may be fulfilled by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Technician Online Colleges

Before choosing a pharmacy technician online program, it's necessary to understand that the majority of programs do require that a substantial part of the training be completed in a clinical setting. This is commonly fulfilled in a local Livingston pharmacy or hospital by means of an internship program. Students often will have the benefit of working with a seasoned pharmacy technician so as to obtain some work place experience. However the balance or non-clinical training may be taken online in your Livingston CA home or via any available computer. This alternative is more accommodating for most students, especially for those who keep working while acquiring their certificate or degree. And online colleges are often more affordable than traditional options. Tuition and costs for commuting and study materials can be decreased significantly. With both the clinical and the online training, a complete education is provided. But not all online schools are accredited, which is important for obtaining employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So confirm that each online school you are looking at is accredited by a recognized accrediting agency, such as the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are dedicated enough to learn with a less structured form of education, then online instruction might be the right solution for you.

Questions to Ask Pharmacy Technician Programs

After you have decided whether you would like to attain a certificate or degree, and if you prefer to enroll in an online college or attend classes on campus, you can start to narrow your school options. There are many pharmacist tech colleges to pick from in the Livingston CA area and throughout the United States, so you need to create a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and technical schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will most likely first start looking for schools that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your Livingston home. If you are able to relocate or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be critical. But there are many other variables that you need to take into consideration so that you may properly compare schools. The following questions will help you in gathering that information and help you to make your final choice.

Is the Pharmacy Technician Program Accredited? The majority of pharmacy technician colleges and vocational schools have obtained a national or regional accreditation. One of the most highly regarded accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Colleges earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and certified to provide a complete superior education. Online schools may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with online or distance education. Be sure to confirm that the certificate or degree program in addition to the college you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting agency. In addition to helping make sure that you get a quality education, it may help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often not accessible for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification might require that the program of training is accredited. And a number of Livingston CA employers will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.

Does the School Prep You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but numerous employers desire that the technicians they employ be certified. The pharmacy tech school needs to ready its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need one year of professional experience. This requirement can be satisfied by entering a school sponsored internship program.

Does the School Offer Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA requires 1 year of job experience for certification, which may be satisfied with an internship program. One of the best ways to acquire hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy technician degree or certificate programs also require practical training prior to graduation and an internship is an excellent way to satisfy the requirement. Check if the colleges have associations with Livingston CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the College Provide Job Placement Assistance? Getting that initial position in Livingston CA upon graduation, particularly with no professional experience, can be a daunting endeavor without some help. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have job assistance programs. If so, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the college has a good reputation within the field creating demand for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a sizable network of employer contacts where it can place graduates.

Where is the School Located? For many students, the school they decide on will have to be within travelling distance of their Livingston CA residence. Individuals who have opted to attend classes online naturally will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of concern. Something to consider is that if you decide to enroll in a college that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you might be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges generally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges generally charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.

What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of student that likes to sit way in the back of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will probably prefer a smaller class size. Small classes permit more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are considering what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classes. If practical you may want to sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate determination. This will also give you a chance to converse with some of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacist technician program also.

Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to confirm that the pharmacist tech program you finally select can offer the class schedule you need. This is particularly important if you opt to continue working while you attend school. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Livingston CA area, make sure that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, find out if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would have to enroll in. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss due to work, illness or family emergencies.

Learn More on How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Livingston

Enroll in the Right Livingston Pharmacy Tech School

Receiving the best pharmacy tech training is an important first step to beginning your career in a fulfilling occupation where assisting customers with their health is your objective. Traditionally, most pharmacist techs were taught "on the job". Nowadays, the majority of pharmacies can no longer operate this way and place a higher importance on hiring formally trained technicians. Training is furnished by trade schools, vocational and technical colleges, as well as community colleges. Most pharmacist technician colleges include both clinical and classroom training. As we have covered in this article, it's important to select a school that is accredited and will ready you for certification. This holds true both for classes online as well as for those attended on campus. If you follow our other tips you will be able to compare programs so that you are sure to make the right selection. With the proper education and determination you can realize your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Livingston California.

 

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